What things do you remember about adapting to military life?

For myself, it was a real terror. I was almost 16 and was given an option by my parents. They would settle my debts if I would go into the military. It might be better understood if I explain some background. I was actually 15 years of age and had all the answers. I dropped out of school (not a great student) while taking advantage of my parents going through a divorce. I left home and moved to the city. This is where all my issues came more to the forefront.
I got a job pumping gas and got an apartment not far from the gas station. It did not take long for the money I made, was not enough to support the rent. First big mistake. I sold my temporary driver's license to a friend (so-called friend) who in turn sold it to someone else. it was about two weeks later that I received a call from the police from upstate. Apparently, the person who purchased my temporary license was involved in an armed robbery upstate and left my temporary there at the scene.
Well, both of my parents were notified as was I and we all had to go upstate so I could be interrogated. When the conclusion was drawn I was innocent we went back home. Going upstate I was with my father, however, going back was with my mother. Understand that with the police she tried having them put me into a reform school. That was not successful so the ride home was hell. There was a list of things I was given to be done when we arrived home. The first was to move out of the apartment (which had put me into debt) and move back home with her.
The whole scenario came down to as I mentioned earlier. My father settled my debts and mom signed me away to the NAVY.
Arrived in Great Lakes, Ill. at 2:30 AM on an extremely cold night got off the bus and the rude awakening started! The Baldy haircut was first and from there was the Bootcamp style welcoming.
While going through the rigorous training I became very depressed and missed my very fragmented family a great deal. For as much as I disliked them. I disliked this new way of living even more.
Finally, we made it through the Bootcamp Hell graduated and had Liberty!
Now we are asked to fill out a "DREAM SHEET". So, who knows what they want to be in life at16/17 years of age let alone 15? Still being somewhat a renegade, I went through the list and chose what I thought to be the best choices to make money. A veterinarian, dentist, and doctor. Odd, a doctor was not on the list. I need you to realize this was in 1969. So I scoured the list looking for a job close to a doctor. On the list was MEDIC! So that was my third choice. Well as time would have it this smarter than anyone else guy screwed himself. When I received my Orders they were for Corps School Great Lakes, Ill.! Who in their right mind would want to be a Medic with a war going on and all graduating classes are being sent where. TO WAR.
I was very lucky as it turned out all the classes prior to mine and many after mine went but my Company stayed stateside.
Thru my tenure of four years, I spent much of my time either trying to get out of the NAVY or experiencing the Rath of THE Captains Mast. It was in the second year with the NAVY I tried to get out on the famous "Psychic Discharge". I was given an appointment with a Psychiatrist to determine my suitability. My life changed for the better after our 3 and a half hour evaluation. I do not remember his name but after all that listening this Lieutenant looked at me and said;
"Young man the four years are going to do you good."

Learning that at the time of joining, I thought I was in peak physical condition, to be a lie. I never puked during BCT but came damned close.

I remember all my great fellow Airmen and Airwomen. TI and NCOs.
Officers and civilians that I had the honor to serve with. May God bless them all

I remember most the regimental of daily tasks. Everything was done in a precise manner and in a timely fashion

The hardest thing about military life is having to start over every few years. Although you make forever friends, you have to make new ones everytime you change duty stations.

I was just coming out of foster care so joining the military was an escape route for me. A little "ignorance is bliss" was at work when adapting. I remember my company commander calling me a whore because I wore red lipstick, and being pretty oblivious about transitioning from boot camp to A-school and then 1st duty station. I didn't have a frame of reference as to how to create my life within the military except that I just wanted to be the BEST. Interestingly enough, I wanted to be the best, which I was in many ways (Honor Grad, flag bearer), but I lacked confidence and did not know how to distinguish between people on the right path and people who were probably going to get into trouble. That was a consequence of not having healthy parents prepare me ahead of time. So, I learned a lot the hard way. Having a mentor would've been a really great help, someone to guide me smartly, but by retirement time I had learned and adapted a lot LOL I think adapting to the varying schedules was a bit difficult and becoming a single mother was hard. Definitely could've used a mentor LOL

As the spouse of an Army chaplain used to small town living where the pastor's family feels hemmed in by what others expect, it was freeing to be a military spouse not seen any differently than any other spouse.

I remember that everything had order and that you were governments property.. keep reminding myself!

One thing is adjusting to the pace of life, it's a constant on the go and it doesn't quite give you a chance to enjoy what's going on around you

Taking cold showers, luckily they were only a few minutes long....